Meier Watkins Wins Summary Judgment Ruling That “Defamatory Dossier” Contained False Accusations

WASHINGTON, DC (Sept. 5, 2023) - The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling yesterday, granting partial summary judgment for a Meier Watkins client that filed a defamation lawsuit against a private investigator five years ago.  The lawsuit alleges that Defendant Donald Berlin and his investigative consulting companies manufactured a fake dossier that falsely accused the plaintiff—the chairman of a private investment firm—of serious financial crimes and other felonies.  The court denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment in its entirety and ruled that there was no dispute of material fact that their accusations were false.  You can read the court’s decision here.   

Meier Watkins founding partners Megan L. Meier and Daniel P. Watkins represent the plaintiff, and Mark R. Thomson of Clare Locke LLP played an integral role in preparing the successful motion.  Steven Oster of Oster McBride PLLC and John Dean represent the defendants.